City of energy
Our city motto is ‘forward’ for a reason.
A proud host city for major international sporting, cultural and business events and a city that connects our communities in celebration, from Pride to Mela to Carnival and the Great Birmingham Run.
The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games is welcoming 2.5 million spectators to our state-of-the-art and iconic sporting venues including Alexander Stadium, Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Arena Birmingham and the University of Birmingham Sports Campus, as well as the Aquatics Centre nearby in Sandwell. The 2022 Festival is shining a light on our cultural heritage and energy, bringing spectators and communities together across the city.
Our central location makes us the national hub for business events, with Arena Birmingham, the International Convention Centre and Symphony Hall and NEC connected in to the regional and national transport network. Our events are supported by a skilled event services sector including 6,000 hotel bedrooms in the city centre and 30,000 in the surrounding area.
Our welcoming city is proud of the energy our diversity generates, with 27 national cuisines served in our restaurants, 50 live music venues, a city ballet and orchestra, the UK’s busiest single auditorium theatre and a vibrant homegrown music, theatre and arts scene.
- State-of-the-art Alexander Stadium hosting 18,000 spectators boosted to 30,000 for international events
- Proud to be one of the most diverse cities in the UK, home to people from 200+ countries and one of the UK’s largest LGBT+ communities
- The youngest large city in Europe, with 40% of people aged under 25